Locking latch for a disk-pack storage container

Claim 1

A disk-pack container having a circular bottom cover including an attaching mechanism for attaching the bottom cover to a disk-pack hub having an inwardly projecting annular flange, said attaching mechanism comprising: two latching members mounted on said bottom cover for opposite reciprocal radial movement between an outer engaging position and an inner releasing position, each latching member having a radially projecting lip spaced from the inner surface of said bottom cover and adapted for engagement over the annular flange of a said disk-pack hub centrally positioned adjacent the inner surface of the bottom cover when said latching member is in the engaging position, and a boss projecting from the exterior surface of the cover and having a gripping surface to afford manual movement of said latching members to their releasing positions; and spring means for urging said latching members to their engaging positions, wherein the improvement comprises: lock means for releasably locking said latching members in their engaging position, including: a locking member having at least one lug and being mounted on said cover for movement from a blocking position with said lug between said latching members to prevent movement of said latching members to the releasing position, to a non-blocking position affording movement of said latching members to said releasing position; a pin tumbler lock mechanism including a key-operated plug mounted on said bottom cover for rotation between a first and a second position and operable from the outer surface of said bottom cover; and drive means for providing driving engagement between said plug and said locking member to move the blocking member between said blocking and non-blocking positions upon rotation of said plug between said first and second positions.